Grand juries banned from investigating police shootings

Under a bill passed today by the California state Senate,grand juries will be banned from investigating police shootings and cases where an individual dies from excessive force during an arrest.

Senator Holly Mitchell, who introduced Senate Bill 227, argued that the lack of transparency and oversight in grand jury deliberations, which do not involve judges, defense attorneys or cross-examination of witnesses, did not serve the public.

"The use of the criminal grand jury has fostered an atmosphere of suspicion that threatens to compromise the nature of our justice system," she said.

Now the local district attorneys will bear the full responsibility for police officers prosecution.